DTM: What’s new for 2019?

DTM is set to have a major rule overhaul which will improve their speed drastically for the upcoming 2019 season.

Although this does come as quite a surprise for fans and teams since it is just one year after the DTM introduced a simple aero-kit back in 2018 to reduce costs and improve the racing.

During the pre-season tests at Estoril and Jerez, multiple drivers such as Audi drivers Mike Rockenfeller and Nico Müller have come out and said that the cars will be “2-3 seconds quicker” in their new “Class 1” spec.

The 2019 DTM Class will use 4 cylinder turbo engines for the first time, moving away from the naturally aspirated V8 engines of old.

It is expected that the new power outputs will rise from 520bhp to around 620bhp, with the cars now hitting top speeds around 180mph.

Both BMW and Audi have said that the undertray (floor) and rear wing have received updates along with both the front and rear diffusers.

Audi and BMW pictured testing their new cars at Estoril last December. Image sourced from dtm.com

The front of the cars have also been made to fit more tightly compacted turbo engines and the necessary cooling requirements.

Another change for the 2019 season is that Mercedes-Benz have completely pulled out of DTM, as prepared to enter Season Six of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship as a works team.

In their place comes British manufacturer Aston Martin, which will have a partnership with HWA and R-Motorsport.

Aston Martin was not present at any of the tests as it continues to do some preparations for a planned debut in the next few months.

All they have released so far is an ‘art car’ that was displayed at a media event at the team’s St Gallen base in Switzerland as the Vantage is not yet completed.

The ‘art car’ that was launched after the announcement that Aston Martin will be participating in the 2019 DTM season with R-Motorsport. Image sourced from autosport.com

The DTM’s 2019 entry list will get a boost by the privateer WRT team, along with both Audi and BMW who are likely to expand grid numbers through privateers.

A team-organised test will take place at Jerez from March 5 to March 7, which will be succeeded by DTM’s official pre-season test at the Lausitz Speedway in Brandenburg, eastern Germany from April 15 to April 17.

The 2019 DTM calendar entails a total of nine race meetings. As usual, the season will open at the Hockenheimring on May 3 to May 5.